Back to results
US 2004/0163805 A1Published application
Method and apparatus to complete a well having tubing inserted through a valve
AssigneeGeneral Oil Tools, LP
InventorsDavid Randolph Smith, Gary O. Harkins, Brent Shanley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inserting a small diameter continuous hydraulic conduit or capillary tube down a well bore is presented. The methods and apparatus allow either the injection of chemicals to enhance production of oil and gas, or to provide a conduit for production up through the small diameter tubing in marginal wells, into a hanger below a well valve to permit its removal from below the valve if the valve should be required to be closed and its reinsertion without pulling the tubing from the well bore.
Claims49
A method to communicate hydraulically with a portion of a wellbore located below a well valve, the method comprising:
- positioning and setting a bore receptacle in the wellbore below the well valve;
- deploying a hydraulic conduit into the wellbore, the hydraulic conduit including a stinger at a distal end, the stinger configured to be inserted into the bore receptacle;
- the hydraulic conduit further including an extraction device, the extraction device configured to retract the stinger by an extraction stroke when activated;
- the extraction stroke being no less than the distance between the well valve and the bore receptacle.
1 more element
A method to determine the length of continuous hydraulic conduit needed for a given well, the method comprising:
- closing a well valve;
- disposing the continuous hydraulic conduit into a well until the hydraulic conduit contacts the closed valve;
- marking a position on the continuous hydraulic conduit noting the exact length of the hydraulic conduit required to reach the closed valve;
- and
- extracting this length of hydraulic conduit from the well.
2 more elements
A method to adjust a length of continuous hydraulic conduit in a well bore, the method comprising:
- attaching the length of continuous hydraulic conduit in an extraction device having an inner surface and a hydraulically sealed piston through which the continuous hydraulic conduit is fixed;
- and
- adjusting the hydraulic pressure on either side of the extraction device to move the piston and thereby move the continuous hydraulic conduit in and out of a well valve.
A method to move a continuous hydraulic conduit in a well, the method comprising:
- attaching the continuous hydraulic conduit to a piston retained within a cylinder, the cylinder providing a bore to permit relative longitudinal movement of the piston and hydraulic conduit connected thereto;
- a spring to oppose the movement of the piston in the direction of the distal side;
- applying hydraulic pressure to the piston within the cylinder to compress the spring and store potential energy therein;
- maintaining the hydraulic pressure against the piston to maintain the spring in compression;
- and
- releasing the hydraulic pressure on the piston to permit the compressed spring to move the piston and attached hydraulic conduit in the cylinder.
3 more elements
An apparatus to manipulate a continuous hydraulic conduit in a producing well, the apparatus comprising:
- an extraction device providing a cylinder and a piston, said piston slideably engaged within said cylinder and attached to a first hydraulic conduit;
- a tubing hanger assembly located below said extraction device, the hanger assembly providing a second hydraulic conduit extending therefrom;
- a stinger connected to a distal end of said first hydraulic conduit, the stinger providing a sealing profile to engage a bore receptacle of the tubing hanger assembly;
- the bore receptacle configured to hydraulically connect said first continuous hydraulic conduit to a second continuous hydraulic conduit;
- and
- said extraction device configured to retract said stinger from said bore receptacle and separate said first hydraulic conduit from said second hydraulic conduit when said piston is displaced from a distal position to a proximal position within said cylinder.
3 more elements
A tubing hanger comprising:
- a landing tool having
- an enlarged upper throat;
- a longitudinally spaced seal bore;
- said seal bore configured to accept a stinger connected to a distal end of a continuous hydraulic conduit;
- said stinger providing a hydraulic port communicating from its interior to its lateral exterior face, said stinger further providing a groove for matching a latching piston and providing dynamic seals for sealingly engaging an interior surface of the seal bore;
- a first hydraulic port on the interior surface of the landing tool communicating with said continuous hydraulic conduit;
- a latching piston, activated by hydraulic pressure from said first hydraulic port, said first hydraulic port configured to engage a lateral surface on said stinger;
- a second hydraulic port on the interior surface of the landing tool, said second port configured to communicate with the continuous hydraulic conduit and to engage a plurality of slips;
- and
- a tubing retainer to support a second length of continuous hydraulic conduit in a well bore configured to allow continuous fluid communication from the surface through the distal end of the first continuous hydraulic conduit to the distal end of said second continuous hydraulic conduit.
7 more elements
An apparatus to manipulate a continuous hydraulic conduit in a well bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a cylinder having a bore and providing sealed connections on each end thereby allowing movement of a continuous hydraulic conduit therethrough;
- a piston providing attachment to the continuous hydraulic conduit slideably and sealingly engaging said bore of said cylinder;
- a resilient member compressively engaged between an interior end of said cylinder and an exterior end of said piston;
- a hydraulic pathway into said bore of the cylinder permitting the introduction of a hydraulic fluid into a sealed space on the opposite side of said piston from said resilient member;
- and
- whereby hydraulic fluid is introduced into said cylinder to move said piston carrying the continuous hydraulic conduit against an opposing force of said resilient member whereby when pressure of the hydraulic fluid is discontinued, said piston will return to an equilibrium position of said resilient member.
3 more elements
A method to connect a hydraulic control line to a continuous hydraulic conduit extraction device comprising:
- connecting a first hydraulic control line to a well valve;
- connecting a second hydraulic control line to the extraction device;
- connecting the first and the second hydraulic control lines to a common source of hydraulic pressure;
- coordinating the pressure from the source to the first and the second hydraulic control lines;
- and
- whereby when pressure drops for any reason from the first hydraulic control line, pressure on the extraction device, will be first released to extract the continuous hydraulic conduit from the well valve, and thereby allow safety to close after the extraction of the continuous hydraulic conduit from below the well valve.
3 more elements
An apparatus for maintaining a small diameter continuous hydraulic conduit below a wellhead master valve comprising:
- a wellhead spool providing a side entry to a wellhead longitudinal axis for a first continuous hydraulic conduit having a flange at each longitudinal end for attachment within a wellhead assembly;
- a seal assembly connected to said side entry allowing longitudinal movement of the continuous hydraulic conduit;
- a tubing hanger, providing a polished internal bore, inserted in a wellhead profile below a master well valve to retain a second hydraulic conduit in the well bore;
- and
- a stinger connected to a distal end of the continuous hydraulic conduit to sealingly engage in the polished internal bore of the tubing hanger to allow continuous hydraulic communication through the first hydraulic conduit into the second hydraulic conduit.
2 more elements
A method for inserting and maintaining small diameter continuous hydraulic conduit comprising:
- shutting in a well;
- removing a master valve;
- attaching a side-entry spool on the wellhead;
- inserting a continuous hydraulic conduit through a seal on the side-entry spool;
- opening the well;
- and
- lowering the continuous hydraulic conduit into the wellbore.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.